Reviewer Candace
Lybarger: Candace is a young wife, mother, and lover of all
books. She received her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education
from The Ohio State University. Candace taught 3rd grade until an
opportunity presented itself where she could work from home and be
with her toddler. In addition to spending time with her family,
Candace enjoys reading, music, history, traveling, and spending time
outdoors. Her perfect day in a nutshell would be sitting in the sun
with a book...or two!

By Candace Lybarger

Published on September 7, 2012

Author: Julia Dumont

Publisher: BroadLitISBN: 0985540419

Author: Julia DumontPublisher: BroadLitISBN: 0985540419

Julia Dumont's
Sleeping with Dogs and Other Lovers, is a steamy, laugh out loud
funny book for ladies looking for a novel with romance, sex, and
comedy all in one package. It
is a very quick read, perfect for a weekend filled with your man
watching football (can you tell I'm speaking from experience?)
This is the first book in the Second Acts series. Be warned
that Dumont's novel is sexually graphic in language and scenes!
If you like more of a vanilla read then you probably shouldn't pick this one up. However, if you are
ready to be sucked into a hilarious contemporary romance about
dating, friendships, and meddling mothers then this is for you!

Sleeping with Dogs and
Other Lovers begins on the first day that Cynthia's new dating
business, Second Acts, opens up to the public. Always gifted at
matchmaking, Cynthia realizes that California has the cream of the
crop clientele that will make her new venture soar. Deciding to
put her own failing love life on the back burner, Cynthia is ready to
play cupid to those in need. However, before she can focus all
of her energy on Second Acts, Cynthia's ex-lover, Max, pops back up
in town and is determined to pick up where they left off. What
follows is a funny story with crazy escapades and shocking
situations.

Dumont has great
characters in her yarn. I believe my
favorite has to be Cynthia's mother, Margie. A lonely widow,
she makes it her life's work to annoy Cythnia and try to find her the
'perfect man.' After multiple visits to her gynecologist to
check for suspicious lumps (that of course aren't there, she is the
queen of stalking) Margie decides he happens to be perfect for her
daughter. Dumont wrote, "Earlier in life, Margie never
would have pulled shenanigans like this, but she had officially
entered the WTF stage...She was grabbing for all the gusto she could
get and if eliciting cheap thrills from a handsome unmarried
gynecologist was her greatest sin, she was still going to heaven."
(Dumot, 42.) Who wouldn't love a character like this!

I had a little more
trouble warming to the character of Lolita, Cynthia's first and most
focused upon client. Lolita is a dog groomer in Beverly Hills
and works with A List celebrities. She is pretty self involved
but quickly becomes Cynthia's new friend. I think what felt
strange to me about Lolita was her relationship with her three dogs.
At first I thought she was just quirky, but the more I read, the more
I came to realize that her dogs have special powers. King, her
Great Dane, is able to magically appear where he wants to and seems
to be able to communicate with Lolita. There is definitely more
to this story and I'm eager to see what Dumont has up her sleeve in
the next book!

I recommend Julia
Dumont's, Sleeping with Dogs and Other Lovers, to any woman looking
for a fun escape from reality. The next book in Julia Dumont's
Second Acts series is Starstruck Romance and Other Hollywood Tails.
I'm excited to see what Cynthia gets herself into next and I'm
definitely hoping that there is some love in the cards for Margie!
As for Lolita and her special dogs, I believe the title gives us a
hint that they will be present as well!